Form the mid-August through the end of the month Bishop Serafim visited and served in all, but two of the parishes of Our Texas Deanery.
Indianapolis and Muncie, Indiana
Before arriving to the Texas Deanery, Bishop Serafim also visited the St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Indianapolis, IN, and the St. Barnabas of Gary Serbian Orthodox Mission in Muncie, IN. Construction work on the new church in Indianapolis is progressing very well, while the mission work in Muncie is developing well in the newly acquired and nicely renovated building for the mission.
Saturday, August 15 — St. Archangel Michael, Huntsville, Alabama
On Saturday, August 15, his grace visited the parish of St. Archangel Michael in Huntsville Alabama, were he served hierarchical Divine Liturgy with the host priest Fr. Gregory Shultz. After the Divine Liturgy his grace visited the building site of the new church and discussed the completion details of the church. He was informed by Father Gregory that so far, plans are that the church will be fully completed sometimes in March of next year and that the grand blessing of the church will be planned for summer/fall 2027.
Sunday, August 16 — St. Petka, Nashville, Tennessee
The following day, Sunday August 16, his grace visited the St. Petka parish in Nashville, Tennessee and there served with Father Bojan. Following the Divine Liturgy the Lenten luncheon was served. His grace was informed about the St. Petka continual progress in its daily ministries.
Feast of the Holy Transfiguration — St. Archangel Michael, Hot Springs, Arkansas
On the feast day of the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord, his grace visited the parish of St. Archangel Michael in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and there served Hierarchical Liturgy with newly appointed priest Fr. Stefan Lukic. Serving also was Fr. Alexis Baldwin of the St. George and Alexandra OCA parish in Fort Smith, AR. Kolo sisters prepared a beautiful Lenten meal for all present. His grace wished all the best to Farther Stefan and the parishioners in continuing preservation of this parish through mutual support.
Friday, August 21 — All Saints of America Mission, DeQueen, Arkansas
On August 21, his Grace served a hierarchal divine liturgy in the All Saints of America Mission in DeQueen, Arkansas – the new home of the Convent of the Mother of God – seeker of the lost which was founded and is currently located by the Saint Mary of Egypt Serbian Orthodox Church in Kansas City, MO. Serving with Bishop Serafim were Fr. George Brooks, a decades-long priest of the mission, and Fr. David Carder of the Seeker of the Lost Russian Orthodox Church in Little Rock, AR. Present also at liturgy and at beautiful fellowship were the faithful of the All Saints of America Mission.
Sunday, August 23 — Holy Three Hierarchs, Dallas, Texas
On Sunday, August 23, his grace visited the parish of the Holy Three Hierarchs in Dallas, TX with Father Ljubinko Savich. Following the liturgy the Lenten meal was served, after which his grace had the opportunity to talk with the architect, parish board, its president Dragos Belcevic and Father Ljubinko on the progress and plans for the fundraiser for the new church and reviewed the architectural plans for the new church. Bishop was informed that the parish plans to start building once the 80% of needed funds are collected and are at hand.
Monday, August 24 — St. Luke Mission Parish, Leander/Austin, Texas
On the following day, August 24, his grace visited the mission parish of St. Luke in Leander/Austin. Vespers service was served by Fater Dragoljub and after visiting and previewing the progress of the new church being built, contemplation was held in the small hall. In attendance there were about 30 parishioners. His grace was answering the many questions related to our Orthodox faith.
Wednesday, August 26 — Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church and OYM Youth Gathering, Austin
On August 26, his grace visited the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox church. The paraklisis service was served by Father Vasileos Flegas and Father George Bitos. Contemplation was then held with the youth of the Austin metro area from various Orthodox jurisdictions, organized and sponsored by OYM (Orthodox Youth Ministries). This event was well attended as it is reported that there was more than 200 attendees present.
August 27–29 — St. Joseph the Hesychast Mission Parish, Bulverde/San Antonio: Dormition and Parish Slava
On Thursday, August 27, vespers service was served in the newly formed mission parish of St. Joseph the Hesychast in Bulverde/San Antonio and another discussion was held with the parishioners. On the following day, the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos divine liturgy was served with Fr. Justin Havens. On the same day the all-night vigil service was served. On the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Hesychast, the patron saint of the parish the Hierarchal Divine liturgy was served with 6 deacons and 14 priests from the San Antonio and Austin Metro Area. The new chapel was overflowing with many parishioners from the area and of the new parish. Fr. Justin is doing an awesome ministry there. Following the liturgy the beautiful festive luncheon was served in the nearby leased venue for this event. The dean of Texas deanery Fr. Dragoljub was invited to speak at the banquet, and he eloquently greeted his grace and all in attendance congratulating the Slava and wishing much more success in future.
Sunday, August 30 — Return to St. Luke Parish, Austin: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
On Sunday, August 30, his grace returned to St. Luke Parish, were he served hierarchal Divine liturgy once again in the overflowing chapel of St. Luke. The choir led by very young lady Adriana Browne Popovich, responded beautifully. At the end of the divine liturgy, his grace delivered an uplifting sermon on the gospel story related to the vineyard and vinedressers of it, reminding the faithful of the need of both Physical and spiritual growth.
Blessing of the Crosses for the New Church
Following the Divine Liturgy, a procession was formed to the site of the new church, where in front of it were set up 2 beautiful large, gold-plated crosses to be blessed and elevated onto the domes of our church in near future.
Crosses were made by our own parishioner, very gifted and skilled craftsmen Marin Andric. He donated the crosses to our church at no cost. The generous cost of gold-plating with 24k real gold leaves was covered by Nemanja Vockic family. Nemanja and his wife Stojanka were also kumovi for this occasion. We are extremely grateful both to Marin and Nemanja and their respective families for such generosity.
Festive Banquet and Construction Update
Following the blessing of the crosses, a festive banquet was held, prepared by our kolo sisters. Parish priest Fr. Dragoljub greeted his grace thanking him for his support and visit and offered an update on the progress of construction. Father stated that thus far approximately $ 690,000.00 has been spent and that another $300,000.00 is committed for installing the roof, finishing the exteriors and insulation, drywalling, electrical and hvac services. This will exhaust all our funds but will bring our church to approximately 80-85% completion. Nonetheless we will continue to fundraise until the church is fully completed. In his greeting bishop invoked the blessings of his Eminence metropolitan Longin, and expressed his genuine appreciation of how much was accomplished since the blessing of the foundation last year. He thanked the parishioners for their support and asked them to continue to do so in future.
Tribute and Gift from the Dallas Sister Parish
In the attendance was also Dragos Belcevic, the president of the board of our sister parish in Dallas. He delivered a beautiful tribute to Fr. Dragoljub and the parishioners for such a successful story of planting a beautiful seed 18 years ago and that seed is now delivering beautiful fruits. He also donated a personal check of $20,000.00 to be used towards the completion of our church.
A Birthday Blessing for Todor
At the end of the program for the day, we gathered around the young boy Todor Stojanovic, to celebrate his 5th birthday, a guest visitor from Nis, Serbia who is receiving the health treatments in one of the local Neuro-Solution Clinic in the area. His grace blessed Todor while father Dragoljub wished him a complete and speedy recovery.
Submitted by
Very Rev. Fr Dragoljub Popovich
Parish priest at the St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church, Austin, TX
Hierarchal Dean of the Texas Deanery